Submarine Mass Movements Research Articles

Size-frequency distribution of submarine mass movements on the Palomares continental slope (W Mediterranean)

In this work, over 3620 km2 from the Palomares continental slope, which is located in the W. Mediterranean Sea, was analysed to quantify the impact of recent mass movements on this margin. A total of 936 landslides were identified, mapped and characterised by defining several morphometric variables that outline the accumulated impact of landslides equivalent to 918 km2 and 10.34 km3 of eroded sediment on the continental slope. The smallest event area was 0.0014 km2, whereas the largest event area was 32.48 km2. Smaller scars with a higher headwall gradient tend to dominate when the environment is steeper, and major mass movements are located on open slopes and structural highs. However, the slight or null correlations between variables indicate that a wide range of sizes may occur on any slope gradient and at any depth.The Palomares continental slope is intensively affected by mass movements. Compared with other passive margins (e.g., the U.S. Atlantic continental margin), landslides mobilised a limited amount of sediment, although it is comparable to other Mediterranean areas where small- to moderate-sized events are characteristic.The cumulative size distribution can be defined by a power-law function that describes events larger than 0.7 km2 with an exponent of α = 1.269. These results are consistent with those of other published inventories, including onshore cases. This result allows us to assume that the scale-invariant properties of the events are mapped. Scale-invariant properties can be explained by different models; self-organised criticality (SOC) is probably the most assumed by the scientific community, although alternative models may be nominated. Each model has important implications in terms of the landslide distribution and long-term landslide history of any slope. Alternative scenarios, such as submarine slopes, with more precise landslide inventories may contribute to new hazard assessment models that consider scaling exponents derived from size–frequency distributions.

Environmental controls on the generation of submarine landslides in Arctic fjords: Insight from Pangnirtung Fjord, Baffin Island, Nunavut

High-latitude fjords are susceptible to hazardous subaerial and submarine mass movements such as rock avalanches and landslides. Geophysical surveys in the fjords of Baffin Island (Nunavut) have shown widespread evidence of submarine landslides, but their timing and triggers remain relatively unconstrained, limiting our ability to understand the environmental controls on the wide range of landslides occurring in high latitude fjords. Using bathymetric, sub-bottom, and sediment core data, this study seeks to generate a comprehensive understanding of the distribution, morphology, lithology, and timing of submarine landslides in Pangnirtung Fjord (SE Baffin Island, Nunavut). These results are used to evaluate the influence of different environmental controls on the generation of submarine landslides in Arctic fjords. We identified 180 near-surface submarine landslides, most of which are relatively small (∼ 0.13 km2), with elongated depletion zones and wide deposits dispersed along the basin floor of the fjord. Landslide ages, calculated from radiocarbon dating and 210Pb/137Cs activities, indicate that 8 of the 11 dated landslides occurred in the last 200 years. Four types of environmental controls were identified, which are believed to have preconditioned or triggered the observed landslides: 1) 51% of landslides, by area, are associated with subaerial sources and extend offshore of debris flow channels and fans; 2) 23% are initiated in shallow-water (< 40 m), are non-subaerially influenced, and may have been triggered by nearshore processes and sea-ice loading; 3) 13% are located in deeper waters (>40 m) and associated with sills and moraines, suggesting they are older deposits associated with the retreat of the ice sheet in the fjord; and 4) 13% are offshore of river deltas, likely associated with delta progradation; they form the largest landslide deposits in the fjord. This research suggests that the main triggers for submarine landslides in high-latitude fjords are climatically influenced (rainfall, floods, subaerial debris flows, and sea ice loading). Consequently, the predicted increase in the frequency of subaerial debris flows and river floods due to anthropogenic climate change will likely result in an increase in the recurrence of these types of submarine landslides. Additional monitoring efforts will be then needed to fully evaluate how future climate will impact the submarine landslide hazard across the Arctic.

The tsunamigenic potential of landslide-generated tsunamis on the Vavilov seamount

The investigation of submarine volcanoes and the tsunamigenic potential of possible movements on their flanks is arduous. In most cases, the lack of specific information about the eruptions' history and their consequences does not allow a comprehensive analysis in terms of hazard. Nevertheless, useful clues on the possible occurrence of mass movements on seamounts can be obtained from a series of research fields. These account for morphological studies, observations of hydrothermal activity, collection of geophysical data (for example, detailed DEM, seismic profiles, magnetic data), etc. In this context, this study presents new bathymetric data of the Vavilov submarine volcano (Tyrrhenian Sea, Italy) and a detailed morphological analysis of the structure. The latter allows the identification of zones potentially prone to mass movements and the development of numerical scenarios to investigate the tsunami potential associated to these movements on the Vavilov flanks. Results prove that the waves generated by the mass displacements in the proposed scenarios (involving sliding volumes between 0.32 km3 and 1.7 km3) reach maximum values in the order of centimetres, not considering dispersive effects. Eventually, a scenario involving the partial collapse of the west flank of the Vavilov Seamount is simulated, although the occurrence of such an event in the past is still debated due to the uncertainties related to the origin and development of the volcano dome. In this scenario, water elevation as high as 10 m are found in large portions of the Tyrrhenian coasts: waves are large enough to emplace sizeable tsunami deposits onshore, that could have been preserved until today in some specific stretches of the coast and could be detected by a finalised geological search. This study belongs to a series of works devoted to the submarine structures of the Tyrrhenian Sea aiming to disclose the tsunamigenic potential of submarine mass movements on their flanks.

High-resolution sequence stratigraphy of complex gas reservoirs: Patao and Dragon fields, offshore Venezuela

The stratigraphic complexity of near-shore depositional systems, together with the occurrence of submarine mass-failure deposits in the area of the Patao and Dragon fields, represents a challenge for devising a development plan for the gas reservoirs identified in the area. The high drilling costs in offshore areas and the sparse knowledge in this frontier basin require an integration of all available data to optimize the development of production projects. This work aims to refine the geological model, particularly with respect to understanding the complexity of the sedimentary deposits in this area and its impact on the exploitation of the associated reservoirs. The Patao and Dragon fields belong to the Carupano Basin, offshore northeastern Venezuela, and contain hydrocarbon accumulations mostly trapped in late Miocene and early Pliocene clastic reservoirs. Existing well data in the area are still relatively scarce, but provide valuable calibration of the available seismic data. This study involves the construction of a sequence stratigraphic framework, based on the integration of sedimentological and petrophysical studies, vertical proportion curves of lithofacies (VPC), seismic-stratigraphic interpretation, petro-acoustic characterization, and reservoir analysis, which enable the identification of stratigraphic units and the correlation between wells. Seven systems tracts have been identified, including the FSST3 (falling-stage systems tract 3) and TST3 (transgressive systems tract 3) which host the most prolific gas reservoirs in the area, comprised of coalescent sands with distinctive rocks properties. There is evidence that the FSST3 is affected by syn-depositional submarine mass movement that distorted the sedimentary architecture and the internal structure of the deposits. These considerations, as well as the identification of potential permeability barriers associated with marine flooding surfaces, allowed the establishment of different scenarios of hydraulic unit configuration, key for the evaluation of these gas reservoirs in terms of their storage capacity and subsequent production.

Dynamics of landslide-generated tsunamis and their dependence on the particle concentration of initial release mass

Tsunamis are impulse water waves generated at the moment when rapidly moving landslide or any other gravitational mass strikes a water reservoir by transforming its impact energy to the water body. The propagation of resulting water waves might cause damages and casualties nearby field as well as in farther coast. The destructive effects caused by the landslide-generated impulsive waves can be significantly affected by the characteristics of channel geometry and particle concentration of initial mass. Experimental and computational models have been substantially applied to study the dynamics of these complicated natural events. Using a general two-phase mass flow model, we conduct various numerical experiments and then illustrate the high-resolution simulated results in geometrically three-dimensional framework for time evolution of both solid and fluid wave structures with varying concentrations of the two-phase initial release mass. The results reveal that amplitudes of tsunami and the run-out extents are quickly expanding along down-slope and cross-slope when the solid concentration of initial landslide mass is increased. The concentration of grains in the release mass significantly affects the flow dynamics and fluid waves when the flow hits a still reservoir downstream. The outcomes indicate that the numerical modeling using advanced governing equations, and integrated simulation techniques can be used to assess the different geophysical mass flow dynamics such as granular flow, debris flow, mud flow, and flash flood as well as GLOF and the dynamics of water waves and submarine flow after the flow-reservoir-interaction. The study of the influence of the particle concentration of initial landslide mass can be applicable to mitigate the hazards caused by tsunamis and submarine mass movements.

Coastal Environmental Impact of Geohazards in the Area of the Habibas Islands (Western Algeria, Alboran): Insights from GIS-Analysis and Remote Sensing

Algerian coastal areas in the southern part of the western Mediterranean Sea are prone to geohazards such as tsunami waves, storm surges, earthquakes, submarine mass movements, and volcanism. Located in the Gulf of Oran, the Habibas Archipelago is a well-preserved bio-environment where fauna and flora are unique. This region is nevertheless a zone where marine traffic (oil) and oil ports pose a threat to environmental offshore pollution. This study is focused on submarine mass movements and their potential to cause local tsunami waves. Digital Elevation Model (DEM) data and the DEM-derived morphometric maps support these investigations being integrated into a GeoInformation System (GIS). Bathymetric data of the western Mediterranean Sea are used to derive causal factors that influence the susceptibility to submarine mass movements. Sentinel 2, Landsat 8, and Sentinel 1 radar images help to identify coastal areas prone to landslides and the coast-near structural pattern. By integrating data collected from the literature and maps (geology, tectonics, earthquakes, mass movements) into a GeoInformationSystem (GIS) and by using remote sensing analysis, it might be possible to derive more precisely in the case of submarine landslides and turbidity currents in the which direction potential tsunami waves caused by these mass movements might be focused and directed.

The enigmatic 1693 AD tsunami in the eastern Mediterranean Sea: new insights on the triggering mechanisms and propagation dynamics

The disastrous earthquake of 1693 AD caused over 60,000 causalities and the total destruction of several villages and towns in south-eastern Sicily. Immediately after the earthquake, a tsunami struck the Ionian coasts of Sicily and the Messina Strait and was probably recorded even in the Aeolian Islands and Malta. Over the last few decades, the event has been much debated regarding the location of the seismogenic source and the possible cause of the associated tsunami. The marine event has been related to both a submarine landslide and a coseismic displacement at the seafloor. To better define the most reliable sources and dynamics of the tsunami, we couple high-resolution marine seismic survey data with hydrodynamic modelling to simulate various scenarios of tsunami generation and propagation. Results from the simulations are compared with geomorphological evidence of past tsunami impacts, described in previous work along the coast of south-eastern Sicily, and within historical chronicles and reports. The most reliable scenario considers the 1693 event composed by two different tsunami waves: a first wave generated by the coseismic fault displacement at the seafloor and a second wave generated by a submarine landslide, triggered by the earthquake shaking. Tsunami modelling shows that a simultaneous movement between fault displacement and submarine mass movement could determine a destructive interference on the tsunami waves, resulting in a reduction in wave height. For this reason, the second tsunami wave probably occurred with a maximum delay of few minutes after the one generated by the earthquake and induced a greater flooding. The double-source model could explain the observation because in the course of other destructive earthquakes in south-eastern Sicily, such as that of 1169 AD, the associated tsunami caused less damages. This implies the need to better map, define and assess the hazard responsible for this type of tsunami events.

Numerical Simulations of December 22, 2018 Anak Krakatau Tsunami and Examination of Possible Submarine Landslide Scenarios

On December 22, 2018, a destructive tsunami related to the phenomena caused by the volcanic eruption of Gunung Anak Krakatau (GAK) was generated following a partial collapse of the volcano that caused serious damage and killed more than 400 people. This recent event challenged the traditional understanding of tsunami hazard, warning and response mechanisms and raised the topic of volcanic tsunami hazard. The complex mechanism of this tsunamigenic volcano collapse still needs further investigation as Anak Krakatau is one of the potentially tsunamigenic volcanoes in the world. This study investigates the possible source mechanisms of this phenomenon and their contribution to explaining the observed sea level disturbances by considering the impacts of this destructive event. We configured a flank collapse scenario with a volume of 0.25 km3 as a combination of submarine and subaerial mass movement as the possible source scenarios to the December 22, 2018 Sunda Strait tsunami. A two-layer model is applied to simulate the tsunami generation by these landslides up to 420 s. The tsunami propagation and inundation are then simulated by NAMI DANCE model in GPU environment. The simulation results suggest that this scenario seems capable of generating such a tsunami observed along the coast of Sunda Strait. However, the contribution of the possible submarine mass movements in the close area between GAK and the surrounding islands either to this event or potential tsunami threat in the region is still questionable. We employed a bathymetric dataset through pre- and post-event analyses, which demonstrate submarine slope failures in the southwestern proximity of GAK. Hence, additional two scenarios of elliptical landslide sources on the slopes of bathymetry change area (could be triggered by seismic motion/volcanic eruption) are considered, searching for the possible effects of the tsunami that might be generated by these submarine landslides. The study may also provide some perspective for potential tsunami generation by combined sources and help to elucidate the extent of volcanic tsunami hazard in the region due to potential future eruptions of Gunung Anak Krakatau.

Forearc structures and deformation along the Manila Trench

The Manila Trench subduction zone is characterized by varying tectonic structures from north to south. Analyses of new seismic reflection data and bathymetric data indicate distinct morphological and deformational patterns in the forearc region. Differences in the nature of the subducting oceanic lithosphere (i.e. seafloor relief related to seamounts and ridges, sediment supply, reactivated features and faults associated with the South China Sea opening) cause along-strike heterogeneity in the Manila Trench and the Luzon forearc region. The northern segment is classified as an accretionary margin while the southern segment is mainly an erosive margin (with a narrow, steep, and often eroded frontal wedge). This sharp contrast is attributed to abundant sediment supply to the trench in the north and to the highly eroded frontal wedge in the south due to scarce sediment supply. The southern trench segment is prone to submarine slope failures and mass wasting processes. The 17°N latitude boundary also separates the forearc basin into the North Luzon Trough and the West Luzon Trough. Associated with this is the initiation of the Scarborough Seamount Chain (South China Sea extinct spreading ridge) subduction at 16°N latitude. A combination of forearc uplift and submarine mass movements attributed to subduction of bathymetric highs near and south of 17°N latitude produced the Stewart Bank. Seamount and other seafloor spreading features induced complex responses arising to diverse forearc architectures in the southern segment. Seamounts and other seafloor spreading-related features in the subducting slab induce slope steepening and significant vertical movement in the frontal wedge and the forearc region, respectively. Deformation associated with the subduction is overprinted by shearing related to the Philippine Fault Zone splay faults with the frontal wedge shortening associated with the ongoing subduction, further complicating the forearc development in the trench and marine forearc region.

Morphology of small-scale submarine mass movement events across the northwest United Kingdom

A review of multibeam echo sounder (MBES) survey data from five locations around the United Kingdom northwest coast has led to the identification of a total of 14 separate subaqueous mass movement scars and deposits within the fjords (sea lochs) and coastal inlets of mainland Scotland, and the channels between the islands of the Inner Hebrides. In these areas, Quaternary sediment deposition was dominated by glacial and glaciomarine processes. Analysis of the morphometric parameters of each submarine mass movement has revealed that they fall into four distinct groups of subaqueous landslides; Singular Slumps, Singular Translational, Multiple Single-Type, and Complex (translational & rotational) failures. The Singular Slump Group includes discrete, individual subaqueous slumps that exhibit no evidence of modification through the merging of several scars. The Singular Translational Group comprise a single slide that displays characteristics associated with a single translational (planar) failure with no merging of multiple events. The Multiple Single-Type Group incorporates scars and deposits that displayed morphometric features consistent with the amalgamation of several failure events of the same type (e.g. debris flows or slumps). Finally, the Complex (translational & rotational) Group comprises landslides that exhibited complex styles of failures, including both translational and rotational mechanisms controlling the same slide. The submarine mass movements that comprise this dataset are then discussed in relation to global fjordic and glaciomarine nearshore settings, and slope failure trigger mechanisms associated with these environments are described with tentative links to individual submarine landslides from the database, where appropriate. It is acknowledged that additional MBES data are needed not only to expand this database, but also in order to create a more statistically robust study. However, this initial study provides the basis for a much wider investigation of subaqueous mass movements and correlations between their morphometric parameters.

About this title - Subaqueous Mass Movements and Their Consequences: Assessing Geohazards, Environmental Implications and Economic Significance of Subaqueous Landslides

The challenges facing submarine mass movement researchers and engineers are plentiful and exciting. This book follows several high-profile submarine landslide disasters that have reached the world's attention over the past few years. For decades, researchers have been mapping the world's mass movements. Their significant impacts on the Earth by distributing sediment on phenomenal scales is undeniable. Their importance in the origins of buried resources has long been understood. Their hazard potential ranges from damaging to apocalyptic, frequently damaging local infrastructure and sometimes devastating whole coastlines. Moving beyond mapping advances, the subaqueous mass movement scientists and practitioners are now also focussed on assessing the consequences of mass movements, and the measurement and modelling of events, hazard analysis and mitigation. Many state-of-the-art examples are provided in this book, which is produced under the auspices of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation Program S4SLIDE (Significance of Modern and Ancient Submarine Slope LandSLIDEs).

Remote Sensing and GIS Contribution to a Natural Hazard Database in Western Saudi Arabia

The most frequent disasters in Western Saudi Arabia are flash floods, earthquakes and volcanism, especially submarine volcanism potentially causing tsunamis in the Red Sea and submarine mass movements, dust storms and droughts. As the consequences and effects of the climate change are expected to have an increasing impact on the intensity and occurrence of geohazards as flash floods, length of drought periods, or dust storms, the systematic, continuous monitoring of these hazards and affected areas using satellite data and integration of the results into a geographic information systems (GIS) database is an important issue for hazard preparedness and risk assessment. Visual interpretation and digital image processing of optical aerial and satellite images, as well as of radar images, combined with Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer (ASTER), Shuttle Radar Topographic Mission (SRTM) and Advanced Land Observing Satellite (ALOS) PALSAR DEM data are used in this study for the mapping and inventory of areas prone to geohazards, such as flash floods or tsunami flooding. Causal or critical environmental factors influencing the disposition to be affected by hazards can be analyzed interactively in a GIS database. How remote sensing and GIS methods can contribute to the detection and continuously, standardized monitoring of geohazards in Western Saudi Arabia as part of a natural hazard geodatabase is demonstrated by several examples, such as the detection of areas prone to hydrological hazards, such as flash floods causing flooding of roads and settlements, the outlining of coastal areas of the Red Sea prone to tsunami flooding and storm surge, the mapping of traces of recent volcanic activity, and of fault/fracture zones and structural features, especially of ring structures.

Modeling of a dispersive tsunami caused by a submarine landslide based on detailed bathymetry of the continental slope in the Nankai trough, southwest Japan

Tsunamis caused by submarine landslides are not accompanied by seismic waves and thus may appear at the coast without warning. In this study, detailed bathymetric surveys with a multi-narrow beam echo sounder were used to map submarine landslides on the continental shelf near Cape Muroto, in the Nankai trough off southwestern Japan. One of the surveyed submarine landslides was selected to supply dimensions for the simulation of a submarine mass movement by a two-layer flow model in which the upper and lower layers correspond to seawater and turbidity currents, respectively. The time series of seafloor deformation during this simulated landslide was used as the boundary condition to drive a tsunami simulation. The results showed strong directivity effects during tsunami generation in which pushing-dominant (positive) tsunami waves propagated seaward, in the direction of the submarine landslide, and pulling-dominant (negative) tsunami waves propagated landward. Both types of waves were strongly modified by frequency dispersion. For pulling-dominant waves, a tsunami simulation that included dispersion (Boussinesq) terms predicted greater maximum tsunami heights than a non-dispersive tsunami simulation. To avoid underestimation of tsunami heights, we recommend including dispersion terms when modeling tsunamis caused by submarine landslides for disaster planning purposes.

Providing multidisciplinary scientific advice for coastal planning in Kitimat Arm, British Columbia

Abstract A 6.3 m tsunami swept through Kitimat Arm, British Columbia in 1974. An even larger wave struck and damaged the Northlands Navigation dock at Kitimat and the Haisla First Nation docks at Kitamaat Village the following year. Further down the fjord, two large coastal block failures were observed on the fjord walls across from the Gitga'at village of Hartley Bay. Several large infrastructure projects have recently been proposed for the Kitimat Arm coastal areas. The Geological Survey of Canada has therefore embarked on a five-year project to understand the magnitude and frequency of submarine mass movements in this fjord system to provide information regarding the risks from these events and to propose mitigation measures that may reduce these risks. We provide here an overview and the main results to date of an ongoing multidisciplinary study, which includes palaeotsunami studies, geomorphological and sub-seabed mapping, subaerial landslide hazard assessment, tsunami modelling, in situ and laboratory geotechnical testing, and the real-time tracking of seismic activity and seafloor movement. Some of these activities are reported in greater detail elsewhere in this book. The results of this research are summarized as a list of conclusions and recommendations to the Government of Canada.

CO2 Migration in the Overburden: Rates, Pathways and Barriers to Fluid Flow

Large-scale geological heterogeneities and their potential to enhance fluid flow or hinder migration in the subsurface are reviewed. Evidence for flow or fluid containment by faults and fractures, fluid flow features, submarine mass movement deposits, buried tunnel valleys, hydrofractures and glacitectonic features is presented. Wellbore-related flow paths and well integrity studies are summarised; the risk of wellbore leakage may be best understood by simulations of predicted long-term behaviour of well barriers. Rates of fluid flux at natural seepage sites and controlled experimental releases of carbon dioxide (CO2) are compiled and compared, and lessons learnt for monitoring of CO2 storage sites identified. The overburden sequences to five operational or planned CO2 storage sites are compared and those characteristics in common that promote subsurface containment of fluids are highlighted.

A new conceptual methodology for interpretation of mass transport processes from seismic data

Abstract Identification and seismic mapping of mass-transport deposits (MTDs) are vital targets for marine geological studies both for a better understanding of mass wasting processes and geohazards and for economic prospects in sedimentary basins. In recent decades, refinements in the interpretation of these geobodies have benefited from increasingly good quality 3D seismic data. However, approaches to define the characteristics, rheology and mechanics of such slope failure deposits still rely mainly on inferences from case-dependent interpretations of these stratigraphic elements; what is more, features and seismic characteristics of MTDs may vary significantly from one case to another, implying the existence of many different environments and related physics. This makes the study of submarine mass movement a challenging task for a seismic interpreter. In this paper, we present a new conceptual analytical method based on an objective approach for interpreting the wide range of diverse objects related to mass wasting, in order to minimize seismic interpretation subjectivity. We propose an ontology-like methodology, based on a conceptual organization of a diversity of interpretation elements arranged in a knowledge base. MTDs are considered as objects with representative properties, each one characterized by several descriptors, which are themselves impacted by multiple physical processes in a graph-based conception. We thus propose a method to infer the most probable interpretations for one mass movement from its deposit characteristics. We applied our graph-based methodology to two MTDs delineated in 3D seismic data in the Offshore Amazon Basin, Brazil. Based on the analysis of all MTD properties and their possible causes, several candidate interpretations were provided. The interpretations yielded by the graph are in line with the known geology and instability processes of the region, thereby validating the feasibility of the approach. The next development stage is a numerical definition of the knowledge base for further sharing and operability.

Morphological Variability of Submarine Mass Movements in the Tectonically–Controlled Calabro–Tyrrhenian Continental Margin (Southern Italy)

The analysis of high resolution morpho–bathymetric data on the Calabro Tyrrhenian continental margin (Southern Italy) enabled us to identify several morphological features originated by mass–wasting processes, including shallow gullies, shelf–indenting canyons and landslides. Specifically, we focus our attention on submarine landslides occurring from the coast down to −1700 m and affecting variable areas from thousands of square meters up to few tens of square kilometers. These landslides also show a large variability of geomorphic features which seems strictly related to the physiographic/morphological domains where the landslide formed. Tectonically–controlled scarps and canyon flanks are typically characterized by several coalescent and nested landslides, with diameters ranging from hundreds to a few thousands of meters. Canyon headwalls are commonly characterized by a cauliflower shape due to an array of small (diameters of tens of meters) and coalescent scars. In all these sectors, disintegrative–like landslides dominate and are generally characterized by a marked retrogressive evolution, as demonstrated by their morphology and comparison of repeated bathymetric surveys at the canyon headwall. Only in the lower part of tectonically–controlled scarps, a few cohesive–like and isolated landslides are present, indicating the main role of slope gradients and height drop in controlling the post–failure behavior of the mobilized material. Open slopes are generally characterized by large–scale (diameters of thousands of meters) and isolated scars, with associated landslide deposits. A peculiar case is represented by the Capo Vaticano Scar Complex that affected an area of about 18 km2 and is characterized by an impressive variability of landslide morphologies, varying also at short distance. The large extent and variability of such scar complex are thought to be associated with the occurrence of a mixed contouritic–turbidite system. By integrating the high–resolution morpho–bathymetric dataset with the results of previous studies, we discuss the main factors controlling the variability in size and morphology of submarine landslides developed in a tectonically–controlled setting and provide preliminary considerations on their potential geohazard in a densely populated coastal area.

Styles of basal interaction beneath mass transport deposits

Abstract Erosion of the seafloor is often interpreted to be the result of turbidity currents and reflects their frictional and non-cohesive nature. However, evidence of the interaction between sediment gravity-flows and the substrate forming the sea floor has been increasingly reported in the literature. Based on styles of basal interaction with the substrate, we here propose a broad classification of submarine mass movements labelled free- and no-slip flows. Three mechanisms are proposed for free-slip flows during translation of mass movements that are effectively detached from the substrate; hydroplaning, shear wetting, and substrate liquefaction. In contrast, no-slip flows occur where the mass movement is welded to the substrate, and the strain front lies within the substrate itself. In the latter case, flows can erode by pushing forward and/or ploughing into the substrate, often remobilizing sediments that are later incorporated into the flow, a common characteristic shared by many mass transport deposits (MTDs) containing blocks. Additionally, linear track features (e.g. grooves and striations) are described as a consequence of substrate tooling by rigid blocks. Using outcrops in NW Argentina as a detailed case study, we have recorded evidence for penetration of the strain profile into sediments underlying MTDs and categorised the deformation into no-slip basal deformation that may display continuous and discontinuous profiles. Continuous deformation profiles involve the complete deformation of the uppermost layers of the substrate, while discontinuous deformation profiles preserve a undeformed substrate layer between the MTD and the zone of deformed substrate. These features highlight the erosive and deformational nature of MTDs, and can be used as potential kinematic indicators.

PETROLEUM SYSTEMS IN THE AUSTRIAN SECTOR OF THE NORTH ALPINE FORELAND BASIN: AN OVERVIEW

Two separate petroleum systems have been identified in the Austrian sector of the North Alpine Foreland Basin: a lower Oligocene – Cenomanian/Eocene oil and thermogenic gas system; and an Oligocene‐Miocene microbial gas system. Recent studies by both academic and industry‐based research groups have resulted in an improved understanding of these petroleum systems, which are reviewed in this paper.Lower Oligocene organic‐rich intervals (up to 12 %TOC; HI: 400–600 mgHC/gTOC), capable of generating slightly more than 1 t of hydrocarbons/m2, are the source rocks for the thermogenic petroleum system in the Austrian sector of the North Alpine Foreland Basin. The present‐day distribution of this source rock is controlled by submarine mass movements which removed a large part of the organic‐rich interval from its depositional location during the late early Oligocene. The transported material was redeposited in locations to the south which are at the present day buried beneath Alpine thrust sheets. In addition, source rock units were incorporated into Molasse imbricates during Alpine deformation. Hydrocarbon generation began during the Miocene, and the oil kitchen was located to the south of the Alpine thrust front. Hence, lateral migration over distances of up to 50 km was required to charge the mainly Eocene and Cenomanian non‐ and shallow‐marine sandstone reservoir units. Hydrocarbons are in general trapped in structures related to east‐west trending normal faults, and differences in source rock facies resulted in the development of separate western and eastern oil families. Surprisingly, with the exception of some fields in the eastern part of the study area, associated gas contains varying (and sometimes very high) percentages of primary and secondary microbial methane. The composition of oil in some fields is influenced by both biodegradation and water washing. Post‐Miocene uplift in the Austrian sector of the basin had further effects on biodegradation and the consequent formation of secondary microbial gas, and also resulted in re‐migration.The upper Oligocene to lower Miocene succession (Puchkirchen Group, Hall Formation) provides both source and reservoir rocks for the microbial petroleum system in the Austrian sector of the North Alpine Foreland Basin. TOC contents (&lt;1.0 %) and HI values (&lt;140 mgHC/gTOC) of pelitic source rocks are typically low. Microbial gas was generated shortly after deposition during early diagenesis and was subsequently fixed in gas hydrates. Basin subsidence and high sedimentation rates resulted in decomposition of the hydrates below their stability zone, and reservoirs were filled during the early Miocene. Subsequent mixing of microbial gas with thermogenic gas and condensates is widespread. However, biodegradation has prevented precise determination of the fraction of thermogenic hydrocarbons present in gas samples. Reservoir sandstones were deposited within a deep‐marine channel belt along the axis of the North Alpine Foreland Basin, and reservoir quality depends on the precise position within this belt. In the study area, gas is trapped in compaction anticlines or at channel margin pinch‐outs and additional traps are formed by imbrication structures.

Failure and post-failure analysis of submarine mass movements using geomorphology and geomechanical concepts

Abstract Access to submarine slopes is usually limited and it is often difficult to rely on deep cores or in situ measurements to determine the geotechnical characteristics of the sediments involved in a slide when carrying out back-analyses of submarine mass movements and their consequences. The approach presented here uses geomorphology and basic geomechanical concepts to reduce uncertainties in slope stability and mobility analyses. It shows how geomorphology can be used to select the geomechanical input parameters required in failure and post-failure analyses. Typical parameters derived from such analyses are related to the strength of the material, the pore water pressure at the time of failure, and the rheological properties of post-failure debris or mud flows.